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Low density proppant

a proppant and low density technology, applied in the field of proppant, can solve the problems of increasing the wear of fluid carrying equipment, causing cracks or fractures, and increasing the densities of high-density proppants,

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-05-02
CARBO CERAMICS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

First, a fluid is injected into the well at a sufficiently high rate to hydraulically fracture the underground formation thus creating and propagating a crack or fracture in the rock.
However, these high strength propping agents have high densities, i.e. apparent specific gravities above 3.4 g / cc, and require high viscosity pumping fluids or high pumping rates to keep them in suspension during the pumping operation.
High strength proppants require larger pumping equipment and cause greater than normal wear on fluid carrying equipment.
Because of the disadvantages associated with high density proppants, the proppant industry has created a variety of proppants with lower densities and less strength for use in shallower wells.
However, there is a real problem with the strength of the proppant when the alumina content gets too low because the corresponding higher silica content causes significant loss of strength.
Therefore, efforts to get an even lighter proppant by using lower alumina material have failed.

Method used

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Embodiment Construction

[0016]The proppant of the present invention is in the form of solid spherical pellets made from naturally occurring materials, such as kaolin clay. This invention is a proppant for use in shallow oil and gas wells which has an apparent specific gravity of from about 1.60 to about 2.10 g / cc and a bulk density of from about 0.95 to about 1.30 g / cc. Preferably, the alumina content is between about 40 and 60%. Most preferably, the proppant has an alumina content of about 50%.

[0017]One advantage of this lower density proppant is that fewer pounds of this proppant are required, as compared to higher density proppants, to fill a given void in the formation. Since proppants are generally sold by the pound, the user buys fewer pounds of proppant for a particular application. Another advantage of this low density proppant is the ability to use a lower viscosity fluid during pumping operations, resulting in more economical pumping at lower pumping rates than those required with the use of heav...

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Abstract

A low density, spherical proppant made from kaolin clay having an alumina content distributed homogeneously throughout the pellets, an apparent specific gravity of from about 1.60 to about 2.10 g / cc, and a bulk density of from about 0.95 to about 1.30 g / cc. The low density is achieved by controlling the time and temperature of the firing process to be from about 1200 to about 1350° C. This low density proppant is useful in hydraulic fracturing of shallow oil and gas wells.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002]Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]This invention is in the field of propping agents or proppants used to hold open the fractures in subterranean formations around oil and gas wells created during hydraulic fracturing operations. More particularly it relates to a low density proppant, a method of making the low density proppant and a method of using the low density propping agent in shallow formation fracturing operations.[0005]2. Description of the Related Art[0006]Hydraulic fracturing is a technique intended to increase the productivity of an oil or gas well by creating conductive fractures or channels in the formation surrounding the well. First, a fluid is injected into the well at a sufficiently high rate to hydraulically fracture the underground formation thus creating and propagating a crack or fracture in the rock.[0007...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): E21B43/267C09K8/80
CPCC09K8/80Y10S507/924
Inventor CANNAN, CHAD D.PALAMARA, THOMAS C.
Owner CARBO CERAMICS
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